ABSTRACT
The manner in which mental illness and the forensic setting impact psychological test findings is unique in forensic psychiatric outpatients (Bannatyne, 1996). Both are influential in shaping the patient’s approach to the evaluation process (response style). In fact, after addressing the issue of malingering, the forensic examiner’s understanding of response style is the first step in interpreting assessment findings (Melton, Petrila, Poythress, & Solbogin, 1998). Constricted protocols should never be immediately attributed to “resistance.” Elevated validity indices should not be routinely disregarded as invalid. Irregularities in the testing data may be accurate measurements of personality functioning of these patients (Bannatyne, Gacono, & Greene, 1999).
